China's new Hygon CPU spotted with 64 Zen cores — C86-7490 supports 12-channel DDR5 memory and resides in AMD SP5 socket

Hygon CPU
(Image credit: @yuuki_ans/X)

Sugon's 4th Generation Hygon processor uses AMD's latest SP5 packaging, according to a finding by hardware leaker YuuKi_AnS. A quick Google search reveals that the CPU resembles AMD's latest Zen 4-based processors in terms of memory and interface support. However, the Chinese company has likely just adopted new packaging to gain features like DDR5 memory support. 

Apparently, Hygon has a processor called C86-7490, which is available on a Chinese online auction. The unit is slightly scratched, as can be observed in the picture. The package says that the product was 'Designed in Chengdu' and 'Made in China,' though this was the same with the first generation Hygon CPUs based on the Zen microarchitecture. While the silicon dies were made in the U.S. by GlobalFoundries, they supported China-specific SM3 and SM4 encryption algorithms disabled on AMD-badged parts and assembled in China, formally allowing Hygon to say that they were designed and made in China.

Technically, this could only mean that Sugon has found a way to attach first-generation Zen chiplets to AMD's latest input/output dies (IODs) with a DDR5 memory controller.

Regarding the political curbs of the U.S. government, there are particular performance limitations defined by the performance of essentially a piece of silicon. AMD can configure its chiplets to meet U.S. export requirements in terms of performance, and then assembling actual CPUs in China is hardly a problem for Sugon.

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Anton Shilov
Contributing Writer

Anton Shilov is a contributing writer at Tom’s Hardware. Over the past couple of decades, he has covered everything from CPUs and GPUs to supercomputers and from modern process technologies and latest fab tools to high-tech industry trends.

  • ezst036
    x86 is dead.

    Long live x86!
    Reply
  • Geef
    Using AMD's socket sounds like a good plan for China's new chip. They will get around the sanctions while still using high end gear.
    Think of it like using a totally brand new high end system but using a few generations old chip. The chip may be a bottleneck but it's a known bottleneck and can be worked around. Even an older/slower chip still runs most games great... Oh wait...

    Cancel everything I said, China has rules about gaming so owning your own awesome PC there is worthless. I mean really, what other reason could there be for a PC than to play games?!?

    :p
    Reply
  • 8086
    404 innovation not found.
    Reply